savant syndrome
noun
: the condition in which a person having a developmental disability (such as autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disability) exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field (such as mathematics or music)
People with savant syndrome, for example, often score low on intelligence tests but have an island of brilliance—some incredible ability, as in computation, drawing or musical memory …—
David G. Myers
David G. MyersExamples of savant syndrome in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Affleck was referencing a mid-film scene where his accountant/killer Christian Wolff adroitly line dances in a Los Angeles dive bar after picking up the dance moves in second (as established in the first film, Wolff has acute savant syndrome).
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025
The seventh and final season of ABC’s The Good Doctor, which follows a gifted surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, premiered Tuesday, while the second season of Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum has spent several weeks on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2024
The show will end with its seventh season and a new timeslot on Tuesdays at 10 p.m.
The groundbreaking series follows Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024
The medical drama, which debuted in 2017, stars Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young autistic surgeon who has savant syndrome and works in the surgical unit at the prestigious San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 19 Apr. 2023
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Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2025
The seventh and final season of ABC’s The Good Doctor, which follows a gifted surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, premiered Tuesday, while the second season of Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum has spent several weeks on Netflix’s Global Top 10 list.
—Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2024
The show will end with its seventh season and a new timeslot on Tuesdays at 10 p.m.
The groundbreaking series follows Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024
The medical drama, which debuted in 2017, stars Freddie Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young autistic surgeon who has savant syndrome and works in the surgical unit at the prestigious San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 19 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Savant syndrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/savant%20syndrome. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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savant syndrome
noun
: the condition in which a person having a developmental disorder (as autism or intellectual disability) exhibits exceptional skill or brilliance in some limited field (as mathematics or music)
People with savant syndrome, for example, often score low on intelligence tests but have an island of brilliance—some incredible ability, as in computation, drawing or musical memory.—David G. Myers
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